Most kids are probably still feeling plenty of winter, but it’s a different story for migrating birds. As winter starts to transition to spring across the United States, warmer temperatures bring the return of many migratory species. And stealthy kids who keep their eyes on feeders, open water, coastlines, city parks, and other green spaces can get a sneak peek of what’s to come.

As birds’ incredible sensory systems start detecting subtle changes in the length of the days as well as the temperature, they’ll start migrating back from their southern homes in search of better feeding and breeding opportunities, says Andrew Farnsworth, a senior research associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology